High School Dropout Owns 1 Billion Dollars Worth Of Art.

There is always exceptions to the rules. I imagine a greater number of high school drop outs work at Burger King flipping burgers and on the janitorial staff at Wal Mart.

It can happen and sometimes does...I agree that the HS curriculum is lacking in preparing students. I have often thought they need to be able to explore their options and directions at an earlier age. It seems we are preparing student for "college" but that's it. Once they get there they haven't a clue as to the why.

My vocational training started in 9th grade and I had plenty of opportunities to expand on it all the way through graduation, I even drafted a couple of complete house plans for a local developer while still in high school. Back then it seems the schools worked harder to help students find a vocation they might be interested in. I didn't go to college, I went to tech school, I think we need more of that kind of education in this country.

Back then they also had more adult education courses, too. If you wanted to pick up a few courses in literature, art, philosophy, etc, you could. I lived in an area where seniors could register to audit a course for 2/3 the price of the normal price after the regular registration period had expired. It was a great way to keep the classes filled and it was fantastic way for traditional students to swap perspectives with people who had practical experience.

Every High School in America should be teaching kids to properly say the following:
" do you want fries with that?"

I believe "Do you want fries with that?" has been replaced with "Would you like to make that a combo?"

The question is: train them for what? My wife has been in Pharma in sales and management for nearly 40 years. She has had great success, but in the last 15 years Pharma has undergone huge changes. This means many highly educated and financially successful people were released into a job market where there were at least 2/3 fewer jobs. Okay, that's life, but what do they train to do? Work on computers? Sell cars? Open a Blockbuster? My point is that training for certain "careers" that are advertised, can be expensive and the "degree" one gets qualifies you for a low paying entry position. Plus in a couple of years technology could wipe out that entire field.

They need to be trained to be flexible, creative and ready to learn new skills as they go along. Any job that can be farmed out overseas, will be. Programming, call centers, art etc.

Kevin, the trades are in demand because all the kids think college is the answer to a good career. While being a plumber is not glamorous it pays well and there is demand, but not enough people want to get their hands dirty. I'll admit I could have gone into concrete, (more or less the family business) but chose the office life instead, but at least I went to tech school for only a year and a half and only incurred a small amount of student loan debt, and for a degree that was at least somewhat in demand, rather than spend 4+ years earning a degree that has little or no real world value and incurring a mortgage size debt.

My daughter's in running start. It allows her to get two years of college done while in high school. She'll have her AA and high school diploma by the age of 18. High schools these days fall short of giving kids what they need for their chosen careers. At least in America that's true.
A driven person doesn't have to drop out when running start is available. I've heard rumors that Obama 's administration is trying to eliminate the program. I hope that isn't true. That would be a shame, I think. It gives families the ability to send their driven kids, who find high school too easy and incapable of feeding their driven personalities, to college to at least get an AA without breaking the bank.

Kevin,
It seems times are changing.
Speaking of technology, Online teaching is on its way rapidly, some people think online teaching doesn't have value, but it is out there and growing so fast.
It is convenient to those who work, but not sure about the quality of education. In the State of NY, we do have program that you can put it toward your college credit if you worked.
My son graduated a year ago and he is fortunate to have a job, but many of his friend’s struggles, not a whole lot out there. He applied to a few law schools, but law school is very expensive. He is waiting to get some scholarship money. He said he would choose the school gives him money.

Self-Checkouts are already here and those will soon be inside Fast Food stores as you punch in your own order at the Kiosk. You might have someone pass you a bag or it might just roll around similiar to the baggage areas at airports with your number on them.

For a large part - college - such as the AA degree achieved while still in high school - is meaningless - what it mostly has done is inflate the degree (like printing money out of thin air which makes each dollar or euro in your pocket worth less). Tradesmen/women - those that work with their hands - can make pretty good money. For example - I pay my lawn man the equivalent of $20/hr. The folks across the street pay theirs $18/hr. But - it's labor - and so many just don't want to do that - it's work, sweat, bugs, and getting your hands dirty. I would do my own - but I'm not able any more - have done it for lots of years though.

The local walmart has self check out - again - there is so much loss through 'theivery' that now they keep two cashiers their to 'help' - but a lot is to watch that those self check outers are actually scanning everything. the majority of folks will still stand in a line to have a person check them out. One of the grocery stores has self check out - they have to keep someone their - watching - even when there is no one using it. I already avoid the drive thru windows at fast food joints - so often what you ordered is not what's in the bag or something is missing - then it's a hassle to park and go inside - stand in line while your food grows cold just to get the fries you did order - or the burger with no tomatoes on it.

Don't drive off until you check your bag in the drive through! Although typically the drive through is so long that I can park, walk in, get my food and walk out and still the car that would have been in front of me is still at the window.